When we first moved to Windy Poplars Farm in 1981, we heard whippoorwills. This
continued for a few years, and then we didn't hear them. I looked back in my
emails, and found a few correspondences with the state Audubon Society. In 2002,
I found an email I had sent, saying we hadn't heard them in maybe 15 years. The
response was essentially that they didn't know. Some had thought change of
habitat or decline in moths, but no one knew for sure. I also found an article from a state newspaper around the same time despairing the fact that they just weren't around. A few years later, we drove north
an hour or so, and participated in an Audubon study to see if we heard any
whippoorwills. We drove around to several promising spots, but heard nothing.
Flash ahead to 2013, and they were here. Again in 2018, they appeared. When I wrote to Audubon, they said
there were several people who had also heard them! I have a note that I heard it
in 2019. And then an Audubon publication from last year says they are doing well
in certain areas of the state. I can certainly attest to that this year! Without
fail, for weeks now the whippoorwill has appeared just outside the house. It has
been on the roof, in the lilac, and on the terrace. It comes at dusk and dawn. It feels like such an honor. I do have a movie of it, but I
haven't been able to put any of my videos on the blog for a long time. You may hear their sound here.
photograph from Cornell Labs.
There is a terrific new article in The Old Farmer's Almanac, here. They quoted Thoreau:
It could mean many things, according to the wealth of myth surrounding this night flyer. The note of the whippoorwill borne over the fields is the voice with which the woods and moonlight woo me.
Interesting, I do love their sound. I know we've had them around as well but haven't noticed this year yet. Although haven't had windows open a lot because of all the pollen.
I think you'd hear them even if windows closed. When they appear at night, the kitties and I race to the study windows to be close to them, and those windows are closed.
A bird which I only knew from the song. I think I've heard a recording of the call somewhere, but had no idea what they looked like. I see now that they look a bit like our Nightjars, which have a similar lifestyle and make an equally memorable, though less musical, sound. It's intriguing how bird populations fluctuate - something which becomes more apparent to me as I get older.
The Eastern Whippoorwill is the only nightjar here. There are others in other parts of the US, and apparently England. Maybe they will be featured on the "Watches" sometime. I'm just watching Springwatch. It comes on a couple weeks later over here.
I know what you mean by that it feels like such an honour! Every time I see or hear a relatively rare animal close up, I feel that way. Recently during one of our Black Forest walks, we came across a tiny blue butterfly. They were quite common when we were kids but, like too many other species, have been in decline and become a rarity.
When I was in the Girl Guides, we sang a campfire song which ended, rather hauntingly, 'Whippoorwill, whippoorwill, whippoorwill.' Of course, being English, I had no idea what a whippoorwill was!
You've made me do some work! :-) I found the song in an old book called International Songs. It's called 'Whip-poor-will' and is described as a three part round from the USA. 'Gone to bed is the setting sun. Night is coming and day is done. Whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will has just begun.'
It must be the singing it as a round that made me remember the repeated Whippoorwill.
How wonderful that the whippoorwills have returned! In southwest Florida, one of my favorite sounds is the Chuck-will's widow. I eagerly await their return in early March. Here's a link to their call: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chuck-wills-widow/sounds
I have spent some time today listening to all the nightjars, and Chuck-wills-widow was one of them! There is a similar sound, isn't there. The song or trill is different but you can tell they are related.
Your post about these birds is so interesting. I know almost nothing about them, but you always make me want to study up. Ha! We just got back from Asheville, NC, and there was some kind of bird that started tweeting or trilling or whatever really, really early in the morning outside our hotel room window. Have no idea what kind. So, I'll be back to blogging tomorrow. Lots to share about our trip. Hope you guys are well. I need to send a letter to the '3 of you'. :-)
I remember hearing whippoorwills as a child in Maryland. Now in NH living south of you maybe they will return to this area too. The other bird I used to love to hear as a child was the Bob White. Do you ever hear that one where you live?
I listened to the sound and it is not familiar at all! At the beginning of the pandemic, I put up a birdfeeder against the window where I spent most of my work days. I had to keep moving it higher to keep it from the squirrels so that soon I had to get the ladder out of the garage every time I needed to refill it. Then I saw a rat waiting under the feeder for the seed dropped by the birds and I was so grossed out I had to stop refilling it, although there was a nice Cardinal that used to visit.
I heard one a month ago over across the front field. I had not heard one since I was a child, though I did hear Chuck will's Widow singing in the pines beside the sloughs at Fort Morgan , Alabama. Both birds have haunting songs.
Thank you for letting me know!! "Ours" is quiet now, and we hope that means they are nesting. Once in a while it will stop by and say hello, and then it is off again. How lovely that you have heard both these birds.
Thank you for your link to the sound of whipporwills as I have not heard them since I was a teenager going to church camp in the boonies. Such a sweet sound! I think that they're still in the east TN forest area but not so much in ours. I love that you interested yourselves in finding out more and taking part in the study about them.
I'll answer your comments as soon as I possibly can. Please do come back if you've asked a question. Also, you may comment on any post, no matter how old, and I will see it.
Interesting, I do love their sound. I know we've had them around as well but haven't noticed this year yet. Although haven't had windows open a lot because of all the pollen.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd hear them even if windows closed. When they appear at night, the kitties and I race to the study windows to be close to them, and those windows are closed.
DeleteA bird which I only knew from the song. I think I've heard a recording of the call somewhere, but had no idea what they looked like. I see now that they look a bit like our Nightjars, which have a similar lifestyle and make an equally memorable, though less musical, sound. It's intriguing how bird populations fluctuate - something which becomes more apparent to me as I get older.
ReplyDeleteThe Eastern Whippoorwill is the only nightjar here. There are others in other parts of the US, and apparently England. Maybe they will be featured on the "Watches" sometime. I'm just watching Springwatch. It comes on a couple weeks later over here.
DeleteI know what you mean by that it feels like such an honour! Every time I see or hear a relatively rare animal close up, I feel that way. Recently during one of our Black Forest walks, we came across a tiny blue butterfly. They were quite common when we were kids but, like too many other species, have been in decline and become a rarity.
ReplyDeleteSo happy you got to see it! And maybe that means it is coming back.
DeleteWhen I was in the Girl Guides, we sang a campfire song which ended, rather hauntingly, 'Whippoorwill, whippoorwill, whippoorwill.' Of course, being English, I had no idea what a whippoorwill was!
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the rest of the song? That's like me hearing about nightingales, and not knowing them at all!
DeleteYou've made me do some work! :-) I found the song in an old book called International Songs. It's called 'Whip-poor-will' and is described as a three part round from the USA.
Delete'Gone to bed is the setting sun.
Night is coming and day is done.
Whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will has just begun.'
It must be the singing it as a round that made me remember the repeated Whippoorwill.
Aren't you great to look it up! I love that round. Thank you for telling me!!
DeleteHow wonderful that they've returned! I've never seen one, as they are eastern birds.
ReplyDeleteI've just read that Poorwills are in the west. Different sound but related. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Poorwill/
DeleteYears ago I visited the Pisgah Forest area in N.Carolina, around Brevard. I heard them there at night and it was magic. I treasure the memory
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you heard them, and remember, and that you told me! Thank you!!
DeleteHow wonderful that the whippoorwills have returned! In southwest Florida, one of my favorite sounds is the Chuck-will's widow. I eagerly await their return in early March. Here's a link to their call: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chuck-wills-widow/sounds
ReplyDeleteI have spent some time today listening to all the nightjars, and Chuck-wills-widow was one of them! There is a similar sound, isn't there. The song or trill is different but you can tell they are related.
DeleteYour post about these birds is so interesting. I know almost nothing about them, but you always make me want to study up. Ha! We just got back from Asheville, NC, and there was some kind of bird that started tweeting or trilling or whatever really, really early in the morning outside our hotel room window. Have no idea what kind. So, I'll be back to blogging tomorrow. Lots to share about our trip. Hope you guys are well. I need to send a letter to the '3 of you'. :-)
ReplyDeleteThere is just so much to learn about birds! I do wonder what was singing for you in NC!
DeleteI remember hearing whippoorwills as a child in Maryland. Now in NH living south of you maybe they will return to this area too. The other bird I used to love to hear as a child was the Bob White. Do you ever hear that one where you live?
ReplyDeleteI read that the Bob White is the only native quail. Not here, as far as I know.
DeleteI listened to the sound and it is not familiar at all! At the beginning of the pandemic, I put up a birdfeeder against the window where I spent most of my work days. I had to keep moving it higher to keep it from the squirrels so that soon I had to get the ladder out of the garage every time I needed to refill it. Then I saw a rat waiting under the feeder for the seed dropped by the birds and I was so grossed out I had to stop refilling it, although there was a nice Cardinal that used to visit.
ReplyDeleteOh, yuck. I really hate those "r" word creatures. Sorry they spoiled it for you.
DeleteI heard one a month ago over across the front field. I had not heard one since I was a child, though I did hear Chuck will's Widow singing in the pines beside the sloughs at Fort Morgan , Alabama. Both birds have haunting songs.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me know!! "Ours" is quiet now, and we hope that means they are nesting. Once in a while it will stop by and say hello, and then it is off again. How lovely that you have heard both these birds.
DeleteThank you for your link to the sound of whipporwills as I have not heard them since I was a teenager going to church camp in the boonies. Such a sweet sound! I think that they're still in the east TN forest area but not so much in ours. I love that you interested yourselves in finding out more and taking part in the study about them.
ReplyDelete